Cinder notch stopper



Filed Feb. l0, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l I d,

Patented Nov. Z9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDGAR E. BROSIUS, OFPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA CINDEB NOTCH STOPPER Application led February10, 1932. Serial No. 592,095.

The present invention relates broadly to an improved form of apparatusby means of Which the cinder notch or cinder tap hole of a furnace maybeclose-d or opened at will, and more particularly to an improved mountingand operating mechanism for such an apparatus.

Devices of this character, usually referred to as cinder notch Stoppers,or hotter rods, 3 in order to be capable of successful use must bemovable from a position in which they are effective for closing thecinder notch, into an inoperative position. During this movement v it isnecessary for the botter rod or stopper u to move in a substantiallystraight line, in axial alinement with the monkey or cinder notch for anappreciable distance at least equal in length to the full length of thecooler y, provided in the furnace wall, and an addit tional lengthequivalent to any obstructions provided on the face ofthe furnace.

Inasmuch as it is desirable in actual prac'- tice to clay up the coolerVto las great an ..x extent as possible, leaving only a comparativelysmall opening in alinement with the cinder notch. the more nearly thebotter rod can be moved in a straight line` the more advantageously thedesired conditions with respect to furnace operation can be maintained.f It is one of the obiects of the present inventi on to provide animproved apparatus of the character referred to of such constructionthat it may have vimparted thereto a true straight line movement for therequired distance during that period of its travel in axial alinementwith the cinder notch.

The botter arm having been fully retracted along such a straight line,it is further necessaryT that it be so constructed as to permit movementthereof to Aa positi on remote from theV molten slag being tapped fromthe furnace. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatusof the character referred to in which the movement to inoperativeposition remote fromfthe slag flovvfline from the furnace occursautomatically upon the conclusion of the straight line movement, theconstruction of the parts beingisuch that the two movements occur inpredetermined in the present construction. By utilizing as sequencepreferably through the medium of a single actuating mechanism.

It has heretofore been proposed in the art to mount devices of thisgeneral nature on the bustle pipe. I have found that during theoperation of a furnace, the different temperature conditions to whichthe parts are-subjected is such that relative movement or Walking occursbetween thebustle pipe and the furnace. It necessarily follows thatWhere the-bustle pipe is utilized either as the Whole support for thecinder notch stopper or as a partial supporting means therefor, thisWalking movement is transmitted to the stopper in such manner that evenhad the prior forms of apparatus been capableofa straight line movementby reason of their inherent construction, such straight line movementwould not, at all times, have been in a direction axially of the cindernotch. This has resulted, not infrequently, in preventing lthe botterfrom actually seating in the Vmonrey.

In accordance With the present invention, I provide a cinder notchstopping mechanism which is carried directly and solely by the furnaceWall and preferably entirely from a section of that Wall which is in avertical plane common to the axis of the cinder notch, Where tuyres orother auxiliary structure does not preclude such a mounting, and whichin any case is carried by a section of the Wall 'as closely adjacent thevertical plane containing the cinder notch as possible.A

Vhile it will be understood that such section, hereinafter referred toas the mounting zone, preferably includes only arelatively small sectionof the furnace Wall located in a vertical plane as before set forth, theactual extent and location of the mounting 90 zone may to some extent beshifted either laterally, angularly, or both, with respect to a givenplane Without precluding the obtaining of certain of the advantagesinherent a mounting zone a section of the furnace Wall as referred to,the mounting zone 'always occupies al predetermined relationship to theaxis of the cinder notch such that if the parts are initially properlyalined so that the hotter will properly enter the monkey, such acontinued alinement may be maintained in service. This is particularlytrue if the lower point of connection in the mounting zone is relativelyclosely adjacent the general zone of the cooler. It is another object ofthe present invention to provide a cinder notch stopper characterized bya support located in such a zone, and mounted entirely independently ofany auxiliary supporting means or furnace parts.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown, for purposes of illustrationonly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the drawingsz- F ignre 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a furnaceWall illustrating, in elevation, a cinder notch stopper in accordancewith the present invention in cooperative hole closing position to thecinder notch illustrated therein;

Figure 2 is a front view of the structure shown in Figure 1; n

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the parts in inoperativeposition;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, illustratingaportion of the actuating mechanism; and l Figure 5 is a transversesectional View on the line V-V of Figure 1.

In the laccompanying drawings there is illustrated a portion of afurnace wall 2 having located therein a cooler 3 of any usualconstruction carrying at its inner end a water cooled monkey 4 definingthe axis of the cinder notch or slag flow line. Vithin the cooler 3 is aprotective lining 5 of suitable refractory material providing a s lagopening 6 therethrough of limited dimensions.

Mounted on the furnace wall 2 in a mounting zone directly above, andherein shown as being in actual vertical alineinent with the axis of thecinder notch, is a einder notch supporting bracket herein illustrated ascomprising a pair of spaced channels T symmetrically disposed withrespect to the vertical plane containing the axis of the cinder notch.These channels, in practice may be bolted, welded or otherwise securedin position.

Suitably secured to the lower ends of the channels 7 is a horizontallydisposed trackway 8 providing opposed flanges 9 along which is adaptedto travel a trolley 10. Preferably the trolley at its upper portion isprovided with rollers or wheels 1l in rolling engagement with the trackflanges 9. Se-

cured to the trolley so as to occupy a position in axial alinement withthe axis of the monkey is a hotter rod support 12, herein illustrated ascomprising a tubular housing within which is supported one end of abottei' rod 14, on the inner end of which is mounted a stopper or bott15 illustrated as being in position within the monkey 4.

In accordance with the preferred form of my invention, the connectionbetween the channels 7 and the trackway 8 comprises a pivot shaft 16.For limiting the downward movement of the trackway about the pivotalmounting, there is provided a toggle structure including a pair ofparallelly extending upper links 18 having a pivotal mounting 19 in thechannels 7 and a lower link 2O having a pivotal connection 21 at one endwith the links 18 and a pivotal connection 22 at the opposite end withthe track system. Carried by an extension 23 on the lower link 20 is atransversely extending pin or abutment 2l adapted to engage theunder-side of the links 18 when the parts are in the positionillustrated in Figure l, and thereby maintain the links in such positionthat the pivots 19, 2l and 22 occupy substantially a common plane.

Carried by the trolley 10 is a plate 25 adapted to be engaged by aprojection 26 on the link 20 when the parts are in the position shown inFigure 1. During movement of the trolley from its full line position ofthis figure to its dotted line position, the projection 25 will ride onthe plate 25. As soon, however, as the trolley has moved outwardly, orto the right as shown in this figure, a sufficient distance to more outof engagement with the projection 26, that projection is free to movedownwardly through the slot between the opposed track flanges 9 in suchmanner as to permit breaking of the toggle alinement. The togglealinement having been broken, the entire rrackway may be swung from itsposition of Figure 1 to its position of Figure 3.

For accomplishing movement of the trolley 10 in the manner described,which movement by reason of the construction of the trackway 8 isnecessarily a straight line movement, during which the botting aiinmaintains its axial alinement with the axis of the cinder notch.followed by upward swinging movement of the trackway, I may provide amotor 28 on a bracket 27 carried by the channels 7. As herein shown, thearmature shaft of the motor carries a worm 29 meshing with a worm wheel30 on a trunnion shaft 31. This trunnion shaft has secured thereto forconstant rotation therewith, in either direction, a drum 32. At one sideof the drum 32 the shaft 31 is provided with threads 33 which engage internal threads 34 on a second drum 35.

Dead-ended to the trolley 10 is one end of a cable 86 passing outwardlyaround a pulley 3? on the outer end of the tiackway 8 and thenceupwardly around the drum 32 to which it is in turn dead-ended. A secondcable 38 is dead-ended to the opposite sido of the trolley 10 passingtherefrom around a pulley 39 and thence upwardly to and around the drum35 and dead-ended thereto. By reference more If it be assumed that theparts are in the positions illustrated in Figures l and 2, and

it is desired to move them into the positions corresponding to Figures 3and 4, the motor 28 will be energized to rotate the drum shaft 31 insuch direction that the top portion thereof as viewed in Figure 2 willrotate away from the observer. This rotationv of the drum shaft willcause rotation of the drum 32 and therefore wind up the cable 36 in themanner required to move the trolley 10 to the right. At the commencementof this rotative period the two drums will be in thel positionillustrated in Figure 2. The frictional engagement between the twodrums, and the fact that the drum 32` serves as a stop, causesconcomitant rotation of the drum 36 which, due to the fact that thecable 38 is wound there-around in the opposite direction, pays out thecable 38 at exactly. the

speed required to permit such movement of the trolley.

Upon the conclusion of the horizontalcomponent of travel of the trolley10, further paying outl of the cable 38, except to a very slight extentas required by the change in the angular relationshipbetween thechannels 7 and the traclway 8 is unnecessary. The drum 35 thereforeceases further rotation, and continued rotation of the shaft 31 causesthe drum l35to move axially of the drum-shaft by reason of the threadedengagement betwe-en these parts. tion of the drum shaft and thereforevof the drum 32, the link 2O having been released by the movement of thetrolley, causes the parts to move into the position illustrated inFigure 3. At this time the drums 32 and 35 are separated as indicated inFigure 4.

When it is desired to return the botting arm to operative position, themotor will be rotated in the opposite direction, thereby moving the topof the drum shaft as viewed in Figures 2 and 4, toward the observer.During the initial portion of this rotative movement of the drum shaft,the drum 32 will pay out the cable36, and the drum 35 will move alongthe shaft as a nut until such time as the trackway 8 reaches theposition of Figure 1 with the trolley in the dotted line position inthis figure. ,.it this time the two drums 32 and 35 will be inengagement, as shown in Figure 2, and continued rotation of the drumshaft 31 in the same direction will result in concomitant rotation ofthe two line position effective for bringing the stop Continued rota-Vper or bott into its operative position within the monkey.

While I have herein illustrated a motor 28 as a source of power, itwillbe understood that a hand crank, wheel, or any vother desired meansfor effecting rotation of the worm 29 may be utilized.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent thata singlemechanism is effective for producing in sequence a straight lineretraction of the bottling arm, followed by a swinging movement thereofor, upon move` ment in the reverse direction, aswinging movementfollowed by a `stra-ight line entering movement of the betting armf Asthe betting arm` gradually moves into operative position along such astraight line path, 'the plate 25 thereon rides underthe projection 26causing the toggle links to assume straight line locking relatonship,this relationship necessarily being maintained until the trolley isagain moved outwardly to such an extent as to clear the projection 26.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide either a trolley ormounting means of such construction as to permit a relative adjustmentbetween the axis of the botting arm and the axis of the cinder notcheither for purposes of initial installation or for purposes ofaccommodating the betting arm to possible changes in the physicallocation of the cooler and monkey. To this end, I may, if desired,construct the trolley 110 in the form of a plurality ofoverlappingplates 40 and 41, one or both of which may be provided with elongatedopenings 42 adapted to Vreceiving clamping bolts 43.- In this manner thever.- tical plane of the botting arm may be raised or lowered. Bysuitably spacing the plates by theuse of filler plates, the botting armmay be adjusted laterally in one direction or the other.

I also preferably provide a shield 44 adapted to protect the pulley 39and cable 38 immediately adjacent the cooler from the intense heat ofthe slag.

The advantages of the present invention arise from a constructionincluding a supporting means for a betting arm secured diy rectlyandvonly to a furnace wall preferably in a Zone of the characterdescribed; from the characteristic movements which it is pos sible toobtain; fromthe utilization of a single means for'obtainingpredetermined movements insuccession, and from a structural relationshipby means of which such results are insured.

,While I have herein yillustrated and describeda preferred embodiment ofmy invention, it will beunderstood that changes in the construction,relationship and operation of the parts may be made without departingeither from the spirit of the invention or the scopexof my broaderclaims.,v

I claim:

l. The combination with a furnace Wall having a cinder notch therein, ofa bott for said notch, and mounting means for said bott carried entirelyand only by said Wall.

2. The combination with a furnace wall having a cinder notch therein, ofa bott for said notch, and mounting means for said bott carried entirelyand only by a relatively limited zone of the furnace Wall adjacent saidnotch.

3. The combination with a furnace Wall having a cinder notch therein, ofa bott for said notch, and mounting means for said bott carried entirelyand only by the furnace Wall and located in the vertical plane of theaxis of said notch.

et. The combination with a furnace Wall having a cinder notch therein,of a bott for said notch, and mounting and operating means for said botthaving a portion thereof located adjacent the wall and in the verticalplane of the axis of said notch.

5. The combination with a furnace Wall having a einder notch therein, ofa bott for saidnotch, mounting means for said bott carried entirely andonly by the furnace wall, and means carried by said mountingmeans formoving said bott to operative and inoperative positions.

6. rlhe combination with a furnace Wall having a cinder notch, of a bottfor said notch, mounting means for said bott carried entirely and onlyby the furnace Wall, a trackway carried by said mounting means andadapted to project outwardly therefrom in substantially a horizontalplane, and means for moving said bott along sa id trackWay.

7. The combination with a furnace Wall having a cinder notch, of a bottfor said notch, mounting means for said bott carried entirely and onlyby the furnace Wall, a tracln Way carried by said mounting means andadapted to project outwardly therefrom in substantially a horizontalplane, and means for moving said bot-t along said trackway to impart apredetermined straight line movement thereto.

8. In a cinder notch stopper, vertically extending mounting meansadapted to eX- tend upwardly along a furnace Wall, a track- Way lying insubstantially a horizontally plane and carried by said mounting means,and a botting arm movable along said track- Way.

9. In a cinder notch stopper, mounting means, a trackway pivotallyconnected to said mounting means and adapted to project therefrom in asubstantially horizontal direction, means for maintaining the trackwayin a substantially horizontal position, and a botting arm movable alongsaid trackvvay.

l0. In a oinder notch stopper, a mounting means, a trackway carried bysaid mounting means and adapted to extend therefrom in a substantiallyhorizontal plane, a botting arm, and means for initially moving saidbotting arm along said trackivay and thereafter moving said traclwaybodily to inoperative position.

ll. In a cinder notch stopper, a mounting means, a trackWa-y carried bysaid mounting means and adapted to extend therefrom in a substantiallyhorizontal plane, a botting arm, means for initially moving said bottingarm along said trackway and thereafter moving said traclrway bodily toinoperative position, and means precluding movement ofthe trackvfay toinoperative position until movement of the botting arm along saidtrackway has been completed.

12. In a cinder notch stopper, a botting arm, means for initiallyimparting` a straight line movement to said botting arm, and thereaftera swinging movement thereto during movement of the botting arm fromoperative to inoperative position.

13. ln a cinder notch stopper, a botting am, and means for initiallyimparting to said botting arm a swinging movement followed by a straightline movement during movement of the botting arm from inoperative tooperative position.

la. in a cinder notch stopper, a botting arm, a single means forinitially imparting a straight line movement to said botting arm, andthereafter a swinging movenient thereto during` movement of the bottingarm from operative to inoperative position.

l5. In a cinder notch stopper, a botting arm, anu a single means forinitially imparting to said botting arm a swinging movement followed bya straight line movement during movement of the botting arm frominoperative to operative position.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand.

EDGAR E. BROSIUS.

